When reminiscing about his days as an all-Big Seven tailback for the Colorado Buffaloes, Carroll Hardy’s memory sharpens as he talks of Varsity Bridge, Tulagi, The Sink and how he got the nickname “Preacher.”

His thoughts go back to 1951, when he arrived on the CU campus from Sturgis, S.D., picking Boulder over Laramie and the University of Wyoming, and over Lincoln and the University of Nebraska, because CU offered a better chance to play both football and baseball.

Tulagi and The Sink were extremely popular student hangouts in those days. Students were attracted to Varsity Bridge because it was one of the nicest spots on campus amid the limestone buildings and red-tile roofs.

The nickname came out of the classroom. Football teammate Jim Dalthorp, who later coached at Arvada High School, coined the name after finding Hardy with an armful of books, including the Bible, while studying for a great books class.

“I was a sophomore, and the nickname stayed with me,” Hardy said. “Jim always was giving people nicknames, and mine became ‘Preacher.’ ”

Hardy became one of the league’s top running backs out of coach Dal Ward’s single-wing offense. Hardy chuckles when asked if it also was the time of leather helmets, but explained that it was the day of helmets without face masks.

“The single wing was referred to as a ‘3 yards and a cloud of dust’ offense,” Hardy said. “But Dal’s single wing was capable of big plays. We ran double reverses and some things to keep the opponent guessing.”

When Hardy arrived, CU was just emerging on a national scale in college football. The Buffs had joined the former Big Six a few years earlier after playing in a league that included the University of Denver and Colorado A&M.

When the Buffs defeated No. 20 Kansas 35-27 in 1951, it marked CU’s first victory over a ranked team. The following year, the Buffs tied Oklahoma 21-21, the tie becoming the only blemish on Oklahoma’s 57-0-1 conference record from 1948-57.

The combination of “Hardy and Bernardi,” referring to backfield mate Frank Bernardi, became the face of CU football. Both were selected to the all-conference team as seniors in 1954.

Hardy earned 10 letters in football, baseball and track and was selected to CU’s all-century team in football. In a game against Kansas State, he rushed for 238 yards on 10 carries. His career 6.87-yard average per carry remains a CU record.

After leaving CU, Hardy played a season with the San Francisco 49ers, catching 12 passes from quarterback Y.A. Tittle, four for touchdowns.

Hardy came to CU with a scholarship to play football, but he always had dreamed of becoming a major- league baseball player.

He had stops with the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Houston Colt .45s and Minnesota Twins, thus realizing his dream for eight seasons, ending in 1967.

Hardy’s baseball fame became a trivia question.

On Sept. 20, 1960, while with the Boston Red Sox, Hardy became the only player to pinch hit for Ted Williams. The legendary player fouled a ball off his foot, and Hardy completed the at-bat, lining into a double play. Hardy also hit his first major-league home run while pinch- hitting for Roger Maris when both were playing for the Indians in 1958.

But Hardy remembers another home run as his big-league highlight. In 1962, Hardy hit a grand slam in the 12th inning, giving the Red Sox a 4-0 victory over Cleveland.

Hardy maintained his connection to Colorado and Denver, playing for the Denver Bears and working in football operations for 23 years for the Broncos. He remembers the Broncos’ first appearance in the Super Bowl after the 1977 season as one of Denver’s most shining moments in sports.

Hardy wonders what would have happened if he had stayed with football. But there were other crossroads.

While on a recruiting visit to Nebraska, Hardy befriended Buddy Leake, another Cornhuskers recruit. They returned home thinking they would be teammates at Nebraska.

“I got a telegram from Buddy saying he was going to Oklahoma,” Hardy said. “That was a blow to me. I was about ready to stay home, but my brother, Dale, who had gone to CU, told me to hit the road to Boulder.”

Carroll Hardy bio

Born: May 18, 1933, in Sturgis, S.D.

High school: Sturgis High School

College: University of Colorado

Family: Wife Janice, son Jay, daughters Jill and Lisa

Hobbies: Fishing, hunting, golf

Noteworthy: Daughter Lisa began the tradition of circling Mile High Stadium on a white horse after a Broncos score.

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